TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Cordillera office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-CAR) clarified that only communal micro enterprise projects are allowed under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
According to Ma. Seichi Tuvera Cherita, from the Kalinga Social Welfare and Development SLP, these locally-driven and owned initiatives that address conflict in the community and promote peace-building could include a bakery, sari-sari store, talipapa, and retail sales of basic necessities.
In the interim, she stated that projects that harm the environment, the acquisition of weaponry, the employment of children, the promotion of violence, international travel, and political and religious endeavors are all prohibited.
According to Tuvera, two associations for monitoring were among the 17 SLP associations in Tabuk City that benefited from the program in 2023 after obtaining three tranches of financial assistance totaling PhP900,000 each.
Accordingly, the funding of these associations are charged under PAMANA-LGU LED fund and PAMANA -LGU FY 2023 continuing appropriation.
For the successful implementation of the enterprise projects being identified by the beneficiaries themselves, the barangay officials are encouraged to provide technical assistance and additional resources, says Aida Bermillo, SLP focal person of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
The SLP is a capability-building program of the DSWD that provides access to opportunities that increase the productivity of the livelihood assets of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized communities, in order to improve their socioeconomic well-being. By Darwin S. Serion
